Team 208

Professor Aukes

EGR 314

18 Jan 2023

Team 208 User Needs and Benchmarking

Our Process:

To complete user needs analysis, the team met online via Discord. This made sharing

screens and files easy. Then we decided that Jamboard would be used to display and consolidate

our ideas. Then each team member started to add user needs ideas to the board. No idea was

rejected at first, all team members suggested and wrote whatever need they could think of. No

team member rejected ideas at this point, this was merely to get a large pool of user needs on the

table. Then we organized all the user needs into groups. This helped to reduce the number of

repeat user needs in each category. Next, we ranked each section by how much the team valued

them. Finally, we ranked every need in each category as well. This gave us a very good idea of

what we value and absolutely need in the design.

User Needs

1. The main components need to be made of high quality materials.

2. The design needs to be comfortable for the user to wear for long periods of time.

3. Directional movement needs to be precise to prevent personal injury.

4. The total design needs to be within the budget of $240.

5. The user instructions for use must be easy to comprehend.

6. The design must be able to be used by people with limited mobility.

7. The design must be designed to prevent recurring repairs or replacement.

8. The finger coils need to be able to be removed with one hand for those with limited

mobility.

9. The design needs to have a low energy level to mitigate risk of injury.

10. Materials used must be stiff to help control muscle spasms and improve exercise

capacity.

11. The finger straps must be able to adapt to various finger sizes.

12. The design must be less than 2-3 pounds for users with limited strength.

13. The design must be small and portable.

14. The design's main components must be self-contained.

15. The design must have connections from the fingers to the wrist for controlled movement

and pressure.

16. The connection points need to avoid having any exposed wires or possible sharp edges.

17. The user must be able to grab objects while wearing the gloves.

18. The design must take into consideration various user’s levels levels of pressure or

strength.

19. The design must take into consideration various user’s levels of flexion and extension

movements.

20. The design needs to allow for stretching and flexing movements to prevent stiffness.

21. The design must allow for individual finger movements.

22. The design must offer a stabilizer to offset tremors and shaking.

23. The design must be rechargeable.

24. The design must be able to be maintained at a low cost.

25. The design needs to control stiffness through pressure control.

26. The design must be accessible to all age groups and levels of education.

27. The design must be able to withstand 2-4 hours of daily use.

28. The design needs to offer a passive movement to help improve muscle strength and aid

recovery.

29. The design needs to avoid sharp edges to prevent injury to the user.

30. The pressure sensor must be designed to prevent force that could cause injury to the user

and others.

31. Instructions must be precise and able to be understood by an elementary reading level.

32. Any materials touching the user must be made of medical grade materials.

33. Materials touching the user must not cause increased humidity while wearing to prevent

chafing or damage to the user’s skin.

34. The pressure sensor must be able to react and retract finger coils in under 3 seconds.

35. The design must use at least one motor controlled by a motor controller communicating

over the I2C or SPI-based protocol.

36. The design must incorporate at least two external environmental serial sensors.

37. The design must incorporate easy to understand visual indicators.

38. Indicators must be noticeable at all times, and in all weather conditions

39. The glove should include a sensor that shows the user how much pressure they are

exerting.

40. The device should help the user sense fluctuations in temperature to prevent injury.

41. The device should help stabilize vibrations in the glove to help regulate pressure.

42. The product can display on-screen feedback from users after use.

43. Should come with everything needed to operate the device.

44. Designers need to understand the center of gravity of the product in the prototype to

prevent user fatigue and other discomforts in the process of use.

45. Product design should take into account the size of the user's hand, or have stretchable

materials to facilitate wearing.

46. The operating temperature of the components should be clearly understood before

designing the product.

47. The design should not be complex to use.

48. The design should offer stabilization to help maintain hand control.

49. The internal components should be able to withstand heat to prevent injury.

50. Products should have a certain impact resistance to prevent damage caused by excessive

collisions.

51. Designers need to understand the center of gravity of the product in the prototype to

prevent user fatigue and other discomforts in the process of use.

52. Should be designed to be manufactured for either the right or left hand.

53. Any balloon or enclosed air should be resistant to leaks and sharp objects.

54. The product can display the remaining power on the screen.

55. The battery capacity should be sufficient to support the user's daily use for a long time.

56. Design product features that can be easily accepted by the user's target.

57. The working principle does not need to be too complicated to facilitate the production

and subsequent repair of the product.

58. The service life of the product should be within the user's ability to accept.

59. After the product stops working, the finger movement joints controlled by each part

should be returned to the normal position to prevent injury.

60. In the event of a product failure, the entire circuit system needs to have an emergency

treatment plan.

Benchmarking

Our Process:

The team met on Discord again to do the benchmarking. First we agreed that we would

look up ideas relating to Parkinson’s or nerve damage therapy relating to the hand. This

produced a few different products that the team thought were interesting and helpful. We

analyzed the positive and negative comments on each product to get more user needs directly

from users.

Search #1

Keywords: Parkinson, grip, sensor

Search Results Link: Here

Selected Products

1. Steadi-Two: Tremor Reducing Glove

● Price: $649.00

● Vendor: Steadi-Wear

● Description: The Steadi-Two is a ground-breaking glove designed to significantly reduce

your hand tremor in Essential tremor.

Steadi-Two key features:

○ Provides INSTANT stability to your tremor.

○ NO batteries or charging required.

○ Lightweight: The device weighs under 1lb.

Positive Comments

Voice of the Customer

Restated Customer Need

“The Steadi-Two has really helped her.

Anything that helps to reduce her tremor

makes her feel better about herself, and that

makes me feel better.”

1. The device inspires confidence

(Explicit)

2. Sense of independence ( Latent)

3. Peace of mind for family (Explicit)

“I have just spent a month with the new

Steadi-Two glove and I am delighted. It is

light, very effective, easy to put on and take

off and I could wear it for hours with no

problem.”

1. The device is very simple to use

(Explicit)

2. Comfortable to wear ( Explicit)

3. No adverse impact on day to functions

(Latent)

“When I put [the glove] on, I had a lot of good

relief as far as being able to drink without

spilling all over myself, and eat”

1. The device makes it easy to do simple

life tasks. ( Explicit)

2. Prevents messes from happening

(Explicit)

3. Less stress ( Latent)

Negative Comments (Original Version )

Voice of the Customer

Restated Customer Need

“The original version was limited to

certain tremor types”

1. Offers no support for certain

conditions (Explicit)

2. More of a hindrance to non-covered

users (Latent)

3. Not listed conditions covered (Latent)

“Original version was to large”

1. Could not fit everybody (Explicit)

2. Limited to certain customers (Explicit)

3. Complicated to use (Latent)

“Original version was to heavy”

1. Harder to use (Explicit)

2. Not user-friendly (Explicit)

3. Not compatible with all users (

Explicit)

Search #2

Keywords: Parkinson, grip, gyroscope

Search Results Link: Here

Selected Products

2. GYENNO Parkinson Spoon and Fork

● Price: $259.00

● Vendor: Amazon

● Description: GYENNO Spoon for hand tremor：Steady helps people with eat more

easily. Steady is designed to counteract tremors and shaky hands that may be related to

conditions like Parkinson's disease or essential tremor.

Positive Comments

Voice of the Customer

Restated Customer Need

“Love the spoon part. In the mornings my

shakes can be real bad,and the spoon

with the little lip holds my cheerios in

the spoon 99% of the time. The handle

takes get use to hold, still working on

that. Over all I like it. I would rate it

4.5 out of 5.”

1. Lip holds food in (Explicit)

2. Enjoyable to use ( Explicit)

3. Modular (Explicit)

“My 80 year old husband has tremors to both

hands. Intensity varies from mild to severe

depending upon the day. With this adaptive

1. Can be used with varying severity of

tremors (Explicit)

2. No messes (Explicit)

eating utensil, he can get foods to his mouth

without spilling. He found the device easy

to operate. The fork was a big plus.’

3. Ease of use ( Explicit)

“Had an issue with a magnet in fork,

contacted the company. They were

very responsive. We got new utensils

within 3 weeks. Very happy and works

well for my husband.”

1. Company was responsive to customer

inquiries ( Explicit)

2. Counteracts tremors (Latent)

3. Magnet works well (Explicit)

Negative Comments

Voice of the Customer

Restated Customer Need

“Do not purchase this useless thing. Far,

far too complicated and unusable for

anyone, much less elderly.”

1. Not worth the price ( Explicit)

2. Complicated ( Explicit)

3. Not user-friendly (Explicit)

“The spoon and fork are made of very

fragile plastic material. How long will

it last? It is very difficult to get used to

this condition. Money thrown away.”

1. Easily breakable (Explicit)

2. Not user friendly ( Explicit)

3. Not worth amount paid for( Explicit)

“I really need these eating utensils for my

tremors, but your many misspellings in

your description scares me about how

reliable you are as a seller.”

1. Suspicion of seller (Explicit)

2. Concerns about reliability of product

(Latent)

3. Lack of transparency ( Latent)

Search #3

Keywords: gloves to help post stroke

Search Results Link: Here

Selected Products

3.XUETAO Rehabilitation Robot Gloves

● Price: $189.00

● Vendor: Amazon

● Description: It has a half cut design features, a wrist extension exerciser can be worn

comfortably on wrists and finger, Suitable for finger work habits. Inhibit the fingers of

the finger stroke or rheumatism rheumatoid arthritis deformation, prevent the fingers

bend spasm or atrophy.

Positive Comments

Voice of the Customer

Restated Customer Need

“So my Mom has had weakness in her left

side for a while. She didn't think this

glove was really going to do anything

she hadn't already been doing. We

started out on the auto exercise for 5

minutes a day on her left hand. It's

hard for her to get her left hand to do

anything, it doesn't mind and kind of

gets grabby on its own.

After a few days of using this device,

Mom found herself reaching for an

object with her left hand, just using the

power of her mind - you know, like

your body should! Every movement

she has to do needs to be so mindful,

so her brain thinking "I want that

object" and sending her left hand,

which was closest, to get it is an

absolute breakthrough!

The glove works through air pressure to

make your hand open and close. It

doesn't feel weird when it does it, and

she really likes that it makes her

fingers extend, since that's also an

exercise she doesn't do often anymore.

You can adjust the intensity, the

pressure, and even use the other glove

on your right hand to send messages to

the left on what you would like it to

do.

Obviously, your mileage may vary.

Everyone works at their own pace and

can only do what they can, but I see

how this device can help people

relearn to use their hand. She'll never

be 100%, but every little bit counts.”

1. The device uses a comfortable amount

of pressure to provoke exercise.

(explicit)

2. The glove forces the user to extend

and retract fingers to promote

movement in limbs. (explicit)

3. The device teaches the user how to

“reuse” their hands to grab objects

through movement exercises and

pressure regulation. (latent)

“What I love about this robot glove is how

straight forward it is to use. The

different modes and intensity level can

1. The device allows for various levels of

intensity. (explicit)

2. The device is portable and can be used

easily be changed via the control

monitor (orange box). Air pressure can

be turned off to a particular finger by

the white valves on the glove which

makes it easy to isolate a particular

finger or fingers for training. What I

really love the most is the mirror

training glove, genius. The mirror

glove is worn on the non-training

hand. When I clench the mirror glove

and press a button it mimics this

movement on the robot glove. This is

great for trying to retrain your hand

and stimulate movement. The glove

works by air compression and is a bit

on the loud side when the orange box

is pumping air. The control box is

cordless so can be taken anywhere

without having to rely on an outlet. I

appreciate the fact that they actually

included a AC USB charger and

cable.”

anywhere. (explicit)

3. The glove allows for isolation to focus

on finger training. (explicit)

“All other sellers were showing delivery

2+ months later and at higher price. I

took a chance here with only 2 review.

I am very pleasantly surprised with

quick delivery. The product works

amazingly well for my brother who

suffered a stroke and can’t move left

arm/fingers. Even the doctors, nurses

and the physical therapists at the

hospital are amazed when they see my

brother using it while admitted. It’s

really helping with his rehabilitation.I

am in tech, and am super impressed

that someone developed this.”

1. The device helps provide relief.

(latent)

2. Provides help with rehabilitation.

(explicit)

3. The device is portable and can be used

in hospital settings. (latent)

Negative Comments

Voice of the Customer

Restated Customer Need

“Video instructions did not show the

proper size or placement to put the

glove on. After my stroke it leaves

your hand unable to put it on, both

constricted or paralysis, with your

1. The directions should be thorough.

(explicit)

2. The device should be accessible for

those with handicaps. (latent)

3. The device should be easy to put on

other hand alone. Tried out both.”

with one hand. (latent)

“It’s a nice product, I guess because I

never got to use it. They didn’t

describe the sizing correctly and

therefore, they size I bought was

WAY too big for my son.”

1. The design should allow for various

sizes. (latent)

2. The design must instate the size of

hand it is designed for. (explicit)

3. The design should fit the hands of a

child or an adult. (latent)

“Incredible product. If you think about the

fact that you're paying to give

someone their hand back, it is

absolutely worth it.

However when you see it, all this is is the

pump from a blood pressure cuff

hooked to a glove with some tubing.

There is absolutely no reason why this

costs $200. This product could change

the lives of millions if it were priced

more reasonably.”

1. Too expensive (explicit)

2. The design is not well made. (latent)

3. The design should offer more options

to the user for the price. (latent)

Search #4

Keywords: healthcare hand Robot

Search Results Link: Here

Selected Products Neuromodulation Tremor Device Set

● Price: $239

● Vendor: Baldoni Neuromodulation

● Description:

○ Effective only for left hand hand-initiated tremors

○ Works like a gyroscope to stabilize hand tremor motion

○ Helps with eating and writing and Quiet enough to watch TV

○ Weighs the same as a weighted glove at 0.65 lb

Positive Comments

Voice of the Customer

Restated Customer Need

“A family member uses this as therapy for

his hands after a stroke. He has used

other machines, but has not had the

results as he had after using this

machine after such a short time. He

has more feeling and control in his

affected arm and fingers. I wish I had

1. Rapid treatment effect of the

machine.(latent)

2. The device is easy to put on. (explicit)

3. No need to use separate batteries.

(explicit)

purchased this item sooner. It is easy

for him to put on even without the full

use of his affected hand. Another plus

is that it is not battery operated so we

do not spend extra money on

purchasing batteries.”

“I ordered this glove for my dad that had

the worst kind of stroke that paralyzed

his right side. We have been working

with him to wake up his brain, muscles

and nerves a little over a month now

with no improvement in his hand. We

received the glove on Tuesday and by

Thursday dad was able to wiggle his

fingers. I am a true believer that this

glove works! So impressed with this

product.”

1. The guidance according to the

measurement instructions still leads

the user to purchase the wrong size.

(explicit)

2. Can work as introduced in the

promotional image. (latent)

3. The device can offer rehabilitation

improvement. (latent)

“So far my mom has been pleased using

this product! She understands it's not

meant to "cure the tremors but it

definitely does calm them down.”

1. The point is not to treat tremors, but it

does help stabilize the hands of

Parkinson's patients. (explicit)

2. Offers stabilization properties. (latent)

3. Comfortable to wear for periods of

time. (latent)

Negative Comments

Voice of the Customer

Restated Customer Need

“This product would be awesome if the

glove stayed on my hand...it addresses

hand only and does not offer support

for wrist...I have long fingers and a

slim hand, ordered large size for my

finger length...product worked its way

off with every use starting with pinky

then thumb...I have left side

hemiparesis maybe it's more useful for

hand injuries only...”

1. Wrong size (explicit)

2. For hands only, no wrist support

(explicit)

3. Only for finger injuries (explicit)

“Size not as advertised, takes a long time,

it is too early to tell if it works.When

you want the exercise to start, press

the play button in the bottom right

corner. It took me a while to figure

that out since are a little confusing.”

1. Wrong size (explicit)

2. Hands-on difficulty is relatively high,

User needs to slowly practice to adapt.

(latent)

3. You do not know if they can really be

treated. (explicit)

Search #5

Keywords: rehab glove

Search Results Link: Here

Selected Products Neofect Extender

● Price: $57.90

● Vendor: Amazon

● Description: Passive resistance rehabilitation gloves.

Positive Comments

Voice of the Customer

Restated Customer Need

“Been looking off & on for something like

this for fingers curling. A little tricky

to thread all curled fingers in at first

but saw results after only a few uses. I

can now insert those now straighter

fingers without using my good hand to

guide them in. Sizing guide was spot

on, snug at first that resulted in a

perfect "break in" fit. I wish I could

leave more than five stars.”

1. The glove should fit comfortably

(explicit)

2. The glove should be adjustable (latent)

3. Instructions should be clear (latent)

“I got it for my brother, he had a

motorcycle accident and was left with

spasticity as sequel. He likes the way it

1. The glove should increase hand

functionality (explicit)

2. The glove should fit all types of hands

fits and is also happy because it allows

him to perform more tasks with his

right hand.”

(latent)

3. Should passively operate without

supervision (latent)

“Nerve damage in hand after spinal

surgery left hand and clenched

position helps straightening fingers all

the doctors and therapist who saw this

glove loved it”

1. Healthcare workers should be able to

easily use/store/maintain it (latent)

2. Should provide relief of ailment

(latent)

3. Should be medical grade (latent)

Negative Comments

Voice of the Customer

Restated Customer Need

“Extremely big!! The description says

s/m/l but when I received the item the

package said one size fits all. And that

was more of an accurate description of

the item. Didn’t fit my child size hands

lol if I knew it was one size fits all I

would’ve never bought this item. I did

send it back and got my refund”

1. Glove should work for all ages

(explicit)

2. Use instructions and product

specifications should be clear (latent)

3. Should be adjustable (latent)

“It's important to understand that without

proper occupational therapy training

and the assistance of a portable stim

device, this glove is of little help. You

must have structured, professional OT

sessions to make this work. Otherwise,

it's just a neoprene glove with a bunch

of fancy straps on it.”

1. Device should be easy to use (explicit)

2. Device should come with everything

needed to operate (latent)

3. Shouldn’t need professional help to

operate (latent)

“The glove came apart and straps came

lose , it is very cheaply made not good

at all! Would not purchase any thing

like this anymore on line. It is not

worth the money that they charged for

it. It is a rip off! Don't buy!! (O) star

rating!”

1. The device should be made of durable

materials (explicit)

2. The device should be made of cheap

materials (latent)

3. The device should communicate

clearly exactly what it does (latent)

Organizing Need Statements

Initial Notes:

Grouped Notes:

Key:

Color

Meaning

Yellow

100 User Needs

Blue